County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Venue: Gaelic Grounds
Date: 15 September 2013
Kilmallock 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 2-13
The curtain came down on our senior hurling season, last Sunday in the Gaelic Grounds, when we were defeated by Na Piarsaigh, by a single point, in a nail biting finish.
Kilmallock started the game minus the services, through injury, of Philip O’Loughlin and with Graeme Mulcahy playing through the pain barrier from a previous injury. These injuries certainly didn’t help our cause as the Na Piarsaigh lads built up an early lead which they never relinquished.
Playing with the aid of a very strong wind in the first half they went into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after only 13 minutes. The lads brought it back to three points with excellent points from Kevin O’Donnell, Eoin Ryan and Paudie O’Brien.
From then to half time it was all Na Piarsaigh who went on a scoring spree and went in at the break leading by 2-10 to 0-6.
Kilmallock had the aid of the wind in the second half and went about the task of reducing Na Piarsaigh’s huge lead with points from Kevin O’Donnell and Jake Mulcahy. But we struggled to get scores against a solid Na Piarsaigh defence who used short puck-outs to great effect. Inaccuracy from placed balls was also to cost us dearly as the game progressed.
Entering the final quarter Liam Walsh scored a goal from a long delivery to bring the score back to 2-11 to 1-9. It was now game on. This was later followed by a goal from a well struck penalty by Gavin O’Mahony.
Na Piarsaigh then had Kevin Downes sidelined after been given a second yellow card for a foul on Gavin O’Mahony as Kilmallock began to put on the pressure.
Unfortunately all was in vain as we just couldn’t register the all important scores that might have given us victory. That was due in no small way to the excellent play of the Na Piarsaigh defence.
Na Piarsaigh were worthy winners on the day but it has to be said that Kilmallock certainly didn’t go down without a fight.
A big, big thank you then to all involved for your heroic efforts on Sunday and throughout the year.
Scorers for Kilmallock: G O’Mahony (1-1, 1-0 pen), K O’Donnell (2 frees, one 65), B O’Sullivan (0-3 each), E Ryan (0-2, one 65), J Mulcahy, G Mulcahy, P O’Brien (0-1 each); K Breen (1-0, Na Piarsaigh own goal).
KILMALLOCK: B Hennessy; L Hurley, M O’Loughlin, J Meade; L Walsh, G O’Mahony, K O’Mahony; R Egan, P O’Brien (c); K O’Donnell, E Ryan, B O’Sullivan; G Mulcahy, K Kenneally, J Mulcahy.
Subs: A Costello for J Mulcahy (51)
Important Note
Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh qualified to meet in the final of the All County Senior Hurling Premier League. It was decided by both clubs, prior to the county championship semi-final, to make it a winner take all game. So Na Piarsaigh became League champions last Sunday as well as qualifying for the county final. Kilmallock were the holders of the League cup. So all in all, then, not a good day for the boys in Green.
